PDP blames killings from Shi’ites, Police clash on Buhari’s ‘misrule’

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has blamed the Tuesday clash between Nigerian Police and Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites, on alleged misrule of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The opposition party said it was heartbroken that the misrule of Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration “has gradually turned various parts of our country, including the nation’s capital, into arenas of violence and bloodletting.”

Shiites protest for the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, on Tuesday in Abuja, resulted into a clash between the Islamic group and the police.

The development left several peoole dead, including a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member and a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DSP).

In its statement on Tuesday in reaction to the incident, the PDP lamented the “continuous killing of Nigerians in avoidable bloody clashes in various parts of the country, particularly the preventable skirmishes between the police and protesters in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Monday.”

A statement it released through its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan read:

“Our party is particularly saddened by the death of an innocent National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, attached to the Channels TV, 23 years old Mr. Precious Owolabi, who was shot during the Monday bloody clash between the police and protesters in Abuja.

“Indeed, our hearts reach out to his family at this moment of grief.

“The killing of Mr. Owolabi, as well as the avoidable deaths of other compatriots, including a Deputy Commissioner of Police, is indeed another sad commentary on the irreplaceable losses and anguish families in Nigeria have continued to bear under the APC.

“The PDP holds that President Buhari has not demonstrated enough capacity and commitment to effectively manage our national affairs and put measures in place to ensure a stable, united, equitable and secured Nigeria.

“Also, the APC has shown that it is completely unpatriotic and only out to destabilize our nation for its selfish reasons.”

The party called on Nigerians to explore necessary avenues available in a democracy and the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to raise a voice of lamentation on the state of the nation under the misrule of the APC.

READ ALSO: ‘A spade is called a spade not a spoon’, Buhari’s govt to be blamed for Shiites crisis – Sani

He added, “Certainly, no nation can thrive under an atmosphere of persistent violence, bloodletting and siege mentality on the citizenry.

“The PDP notes that had President Buhari indeed, given the littlest consideration to the continuous wise counsel by well-meaning Nigerian leaders, including former presidents, as well as international bodies, the security challenges confronting our nation would have been reduced to the barest minimum.”

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